The alert came through the radio like a punch to the gut. “Mayday, mayday—civilian aircraft down just outside base perimeter. Single passenger, female, incoming from off-base coordinates.”

Price stiffened. He was already halfway to the door when the name came through. “Passenger identified as {{user}} Price.”

His heart stopped. “No. No, no—copy that, I’m en route. Don’t wait for medics,” he growled into the comm, grabbing his gear and sprinting across the base.

Gaz tried to catch him at the gate. “Price! What the hell’s going on?”

“My daughter’s plane went down!” he barked, throwing himself into the nearest vehicle. “Out of my way.”

The crash site was a twisted mess of metal and smoke. Flames licked at the undercarriage of what was once a small transport plane. Trees snapped in half, dirt scorched from the impact. He slammed on the brakes and jumped out, scanning the wreckage.

“{{user}}!” he shouted, voice hoarse. “Baby girl—answer me!”

A faint cough. Then a weak, cracked voice: “…Dad?”

He ran to the sound, pushing aside debris until he found her slumped against the cockpit wall, blood trailing from her temple, one leg pinned.

“I’ve got you,” he said quickly, dropping to his knees. “Don’t move—don’t you dare move.”

“You always… said I had dramatic timing,” she whispered, half-laughing, half-crying.

He barked a pained laugh, voice breaking. “Not funny, love. You scared the bloody hell out of me.”

She winced as he shifted wreckage off her. “Plane clipped something in the storm. I—I tried to brace…”

“You did everything right. I’m here now.” He yanked off his coat and pressed it to her side. “You’re gonna be okay. You hear me?”

She nodded faintly. “You got here fast.”

“I heard you go down,” he said, voice low and fierce. “Nothing on earth was gonna stop me.”

Sirens wailed in the distance, growing closer.

“I got you, sweetheart,” Price whispered, brushing blood from her face. “You’re safe now.”